Hounds win soccer finale in overtime

October 29, 2007

Freedom New Mexico

ODESSA, Texas — Senior midfielder Keith Vargas scored on a header in the final minute of the first of potentially two 10-minute sudden-death overtimes Sunday, giving Eastern New Mexico University a come-from-behind 3-2 men’s soccer victory over Texas-Permian Basin.

The Greyhounds (8-8-1) reached the .500 mark for the first time since mid-September. They finish their season with a Southwest Soccer Conference match on Friday at Midwestern State.

Senior forward Raul Franco staked the Falcons (7-11) to a 2-1 halftime lead with his second goal of the day in the final minute of the half, but he was ejected from the match less than three minutes into the second half after receiving a red card.

ENMU pulled even 1-1 with just under two minutes left in the half when sophomore forward Cesareo Contreras scored off an assist from Hugo Gonzales. Franco then regained the lead for Permian Basin when he one-timed the ball into the net with 32 seconds to go off a corner kick by Carlos Guillen.

The Hounds tied it again with just over 25 minutes left in regulation when freshman forward Edgar Bear beat Falcons goalkeeper Gage Peterson off a pass into the box from sophomore midfielder Stephen Alicandro.

The Hounds had a 12-7 edge in shots on goal and a 9-7 advantage in corner kicks. Senior goalkeeper Leif Craddock had four saves for ENMU, while Peterson made eight for Permian Basin.